106 replies to this topic

[Noose]

Hey..apologies to everyone that asked if the launching problem experienced in September was fixed to which you heard a reply from most of us that we were told it was. Well, I guess it was on fixed on red. The runway was moved to the next lane.

(For those of you that have never been on this track, the colors are all different. Red lane is what we would know as green lane. The new launch lane, black, is what we would normally know as white). The gutter lanes on this track are yellow and white.

[tonyp]

I thought they were all gutter lanes. LOL...

I wish Lou would get the track resurfaced it is a cool design to race on. It was a dream when I used to race on it, just hard. Resurface the track, get some software that functions, make a realistic pit pass and I would love to run there. I guess Lou does well enough with rentals and birthday parties and probably makes less when we are there so he doesn't really care or need us.

[Bill from NH]

"I guess Lou does well enough with rentals and birthday parties and probably makes less when we are there so he doesn't really care or need us."


I couldn't have said it better myself! Does he even have any regular weekly race programs running?

A true story. My former local track owner here used to walk to Elmsford as a kid because he lived in the neighborhood. In the mid-90s when he planning to open a raceway up here he went to Lou to ask for pointers on how to make his new raseway a success. Lou gave gave him one dirty look & walked away. You would have thought he was opening competition to Elmsford on the next street corner rather than some 250 mi. away. Needless to say, his childhood dreams of Elmsford grew some black edges that day.

[Noose]

Bill, it appears so since there are schedules and signs all over the place. I did hear some of the locals talking about their regular Friday night races.

[tonyp]

"Does he even have any regular weekly race programs running?"

I seriously doubt it as no one there actually seems to know how to use the lap counting program. I give Lou credit, he is maybe the longest running shop in the USA or World even, or one of the top 2 or 3. The other 2 tracks were jammed with birthday parties and rentals all day long. His business model works and he should be applauded for it.

[NJ Racer]

Sorry I missed all the excitement and congrats to the SURVIVORS LOL.

I am preparing for Sonny's Fast Lanes in advance.

[Noose]

You missed your ride. You could have sat between Rob and Emott.

[Chris Radisich]

The track was a little rough on the F1 cars for sure, we would have been better cleaning the figure 8 and running on there I think. After I sorted out my qualifying gear problem my F1 was one of those that actually behaved in the bank, but I still managed to get in the way of a car that didn't like the bank and got wrecked anyway. Spending almost a whole heat running with a floating bearing in the backend doesn't make for a lot of laps!

The GT car was great on that track, never had a problem on Green, or in the bank. It was a little unhappy in the squiggles up the hill, Matt was killing me there. The race was certainly a close one, with at one point 5 of us all on the lead lap, and then in the last couple of heats Matt, Mike and I all so close. Maybe i'll only come to the Gt Coupe races in the future, 2 races and a 1st and a 2nd isn't a bad record.

Matt drove a hell of a last heat on Yellow (where black lane would usually be) and deserved to win after I dumped it a couple of times the heat before on White (where red would normally be). The deadman on white was so tempting to dive into hard that it was only a matter of time before I fell off.

Certainly a fun track with the GT cars, but I don't think F1 cars need to run on it.

[Krash63]

Hey I proved a Jersey john chassis is a jet.--It was like a Bullet off the launch pad.
Thank you Noose for the quick chassis repair after one of my many launches .
Off to Sonnys

[Matt Bruce]

I`m sure everyone knows where I stand in regards to what happened this weekend. Again, lets take what we learned and apply it to make future racing stronger. The great days of the Nuvolari track are clearly in the past. My thanks to Paul for his great effort to salvage the show. Also to Lou for the nice trophies. Thanks to all the local racers who came to race with us, esp. Issac who loves that track and drove it so nicely. I wish I could have raced on it in its prime with you guys. Maybe it will come to life again someday with some TLC and a makeover, it certainly was a challenge. With more local interest in racing and some dedicated people like Paul I can see hope for scratch built retro cars to race on her but some issues clearly need to be addressed. Its a thrill for me to win a race on such a legendary track with so much slot racing history on it. I know Jay feels the same. Thanks Chris and Mike for not passing me, it was a close one.

[trailerkeith]

On defense of Elmsford.....
There is no defense of some of it, alot of what they said "Would be taken care of" didn't seem to be. I do know that the last time the track was seriously resurfaced was 1991, I should know I was there. 18 Years is a long time to let that go.
I think Paul does have a racing program future in mind for not just RetroEast but for other programs as well. I know the intentions are there... It's a matter of willing backs to sling MDF sheets and route new lanes and the money to pay for it.
The computer system there is lets just say in need of an overhaul as well.... A lot can be blamed on the fact is that Elmsford hasn't had a big turnout for a race event to run a format like we do.
And $30 for a pit pass is Cadillac money for us on a Chevy budget.
Some cars launched, some didn't.

That being said, They do have a good retro parts selection and Paul has been more than willing to get what is needed in stock. They have a great layout, decent pit space and heck I think they'll be one of the few tracks to weather tough economic times, as they have done in the past.

I heard rumblings (some VERY justified) about the event... But in Elmsford's defense the track had been open early (8 or 9 am) on a Sunday to accommodate us, so any complaints about not being able to get a space on the track is pure BS because I saw (coming early for me) the track only fully occupied for practice once or twice. the rest of the time until F1 tech in the track had only a few or 1 or 2 racers practicing.

I know it's an unpopular stand I take defending this track. I know it's too late for some of you to ever want to go back. For that I apologize, I take it personally because I did push for a race to be held there. And Elmsford is my slot car spiritual home.

Here's food for thought... When Michael Schumacher would run at Imola or Silverstone did he ask the track to adjust to the car or did he practice and adjust the car and himself to the track and conditions?

Let the beatings begin!

[tonyp]

I think the frustration comes from Noose, myself and many others like yourself who truly wanted to race at Elmsford and promised everyone the track would we fixed and awesome for the next race. I personally had to convince people to come back after the first race.
The track was the same, they raised the pit pass from 20 to 30 dollars on race morning and told us the F1 race would have to change venues 2 days before.

I am sure Lou trusted his staff to get things ready. They were not. Lots of equipment was ruined and lots of money spent. It had that 70's Pro racing "I don't want to do it anymore" feel for me and a lot of others.

It is no more your fault than mine as I have been saying we need to run at Elmsford. It has heritage and a cool track. Unfortunately it is no longer raceable except by maybe high downforce wing cars. It is a shame. If Lou ever gets the track resurfaced, I'd be there to race in a second.

[Noose]

Keith, many guys adjusted their cars as best they could by themselves. The analogy to the Ferrari TEAM is not relevant here. As for parts availability..hmm..maybe some stuff. Didn't have gears though as guys were looking for them and couldn't get them.

I agree that Paul did a lot of things ahead of time to try and make this work. It's sad, but it didn't.

[JerseyJohn]

Keith, your loyalty to Elmsford is honorable buddy, however since that track went under water at the old store it clearly did not recover well. Its a nice venue to race at in spite of the ridiculous pit pass cost but I dont think the cost in equipment damage is worth it.
PS you raced great sunday.....

[John Gorski]

Congrates to Jay & Matt for there wins Also Mike Katz & Randy TQ's At Cape Elmsford.
I 1st raced on her in 1968 Jerry Brady showed me the bumps back then it was his home track.
You blipped 4 times on yellow going into the bank 3 times on the next lane up
2 times on the next and once on the next it was crazy back then Wayne Williams won the race
Me, Brady, Cukras, & Lou the owner were also in that main It was one of my 1st big major races
as an amateur. I ran an Elfin body thats what you guys needed. Its a track with its own mind.
Good job racers riding the Dragon.

[Larry Mattingly]

And, I heard that didn't include lunch...

LM

[JerseyJohn]

OR COFFEE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Larry Mattingly]

Or, chocolate-covered donuts for Mr. P ....

LM

[tonyp]

LOL. Nothing. That's why I had a crap day. No caffeine to counteract the Vicodin. LOL

[JerseyJohn]

Lets not forget the TONS of screaming kids !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Poleaaaaaaase

[tonyp]

Like going to sunday pasta dinner at grandma Molnarnato's

[Tex]

A $30.00 pit pass


Sorry you guys had a tuff day of racing! Matt great job salvaging A win!

I was gonna say something similar but then decided not to. I've never EVER heard of charging for pit space.

[tonyp]

Tex it was for practice time in the morning before the race. from 8 am when the doors opened till 11 when tech opened.

[Tex]

Ah.

LOL. Noose was just PM'ing me the same info.

Still, it sounds VERY expensive just for practice time. Then again, you guys have a much higher cost of living up East than we do here.